Acts 23:1–15

Footnotes

1. 1 Grk “Paul, looking directly at the council, said.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
2. 2 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
3. 3 πολιτεύομαι 3 has “W. a double συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ θεῷ I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God Ac 23:1.”
4. 4 Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.
5. 5 BDAG 778 παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.b.α has “οἱ παρεστῶτες αὐτῷ those standing near him Ac 23:2.”
6. 6 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
7. 7 Or “hit” (‘strike’ maintains the wordplay with the following verse). The action was probably designed to indicate a rejection of Paul’s claim to a clear conscience in the previous verse.
8. 8 You whitewashed wall. This was an idiom for hypocrisy—just as the wall was painted on the outside but something different on the inside, so this person was not what he appeared or pretended to be (L&N 88.234; see also τοῖχος). Paul was claiming that the man’s response was two-faced (Ezek 13:10–16; Matt 23:27–28). See also Deut 28:22.
9. 9 Grk “And do.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
10. 10 The law refers to the law of Moses.
11. 11 παρανομέω has “παρανομῶν κελεύεις in violation of the law you order Ac 23:3.” In violation of the law. Paul was claiming that punishment was given before the examination was complete ( Sanhedrin 3:6–8). Luke’s noting of this detail shows how quickly the leadership moved to react against Paul.
12. 12 The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
13. 13 L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidoreō) “to speak in a highly insulting manner—‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’ ” Insult God’s high priest. Paul was close to violation of the Mosaic law with his response, as the citation from Exod 22:28 in v. 5 makes clear.
14. 14 Grk “said.”
15. 15 Or “know.”
16. 16 A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.
17. 17 γινώσκω 4 has “to be aware of someth., perceive, notice, realize”; this is further clarified by section 4.c: “w. ὅτι foll.… Ac 23:6.”
18. 18 See the note on Sadducees in .
19. 19 See the note on Pharisee in .
20. 20 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
21. 21 That is, concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected. Grk “concerning the hope and resurrection.” ἐλπίς 1.b.α states, “Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία).” With an objective genitive construction, the resurrection of the dead would be the “object” of the hope.
22. 22 The participle εἰπόντος (eipontos) has been translated temporally.
23. 23 Or “a dispute” ( στάσις 3).
24. 24 Grk “there came about an argument.” This has been simplified to “an argument began”
25. 25 ἀμφότεροι 2 has “all, even when more than two are involved … Φαρισαῖοι ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀ. believe in them all 23:8.” On this belief see Josephus, 2.8.14 (2.163); 18.1.3 (18.14). This is a parenthetical note by the author.
26. 26 Or “clamor” (cf. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).
27. 27 Or “and some scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in .
28. 28 Grk “standing up.” The participle ἀναστάντες (anastantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
29. 29 Grk “protested strongly, saying.” L&N 39.27 has “διαμάχομαι: to fight or contend with, involving severity and thoroughness—‘to protest strongly, to contend with.’ … ‘some scribes from the party of the Pharisees protested strongly’ Ac 23:9.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.
30. 30 “We find nothing wrong with this man.” Here is another declaration of innocence. These leaders recognized the possibility that Paul might have the right to make his claim.
31. 31 This genitive absolute construction with the participle γινομένης (ginomenēs) has been taken temporally (it could also be translated as causal).
32. 32 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.
33. 33 Grk “that Paul would be torn to pieces by them.” διασπάω has “of an angry mob μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπʼ αὐτῶν that Paul would be torn in pieces by them Ac 23:10.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been converted to an equivalent active construction in the translation.
34. 34 Normally this term means “army,” but according to στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.
35. 35 Or “to go down, grab him out of their midst.”
36. 36 Or “the headquarters.” παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”
37. 37 The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.
38. 38 Grk “standing near Paul, said.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
39. 39 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
40. 40 Or “Do not be afraid.”
41. 41 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
42. 42 Like Jesus went to Jerusalem, Paul would now go to Rome. This trip forms the concluding backdrop to Acts. This is the second notice about going to Rome (see Acts 19:21 for the first). For location see .
43. 43 Grk “when it was day.”
44. 44 Grk “forming a conspiracy, bound.” The participle ποιήσαντες (poiēsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
45. 45 L&N 30.72 has ‘some Jews formed a conspiracy’ Ac 23:12”; συστροφή 1 has “Judeans came together in a mob 23:12. But in the last pass. the word may also mean—2. the product of a clandestine gathering, plot, conspiracy” (see also Amos 7:10; Ps 63:3).
46. 46 Or “bound themselves under a curse.” ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “ put under a curse τινά someone … pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14 … ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” On such oaths see Shevi’it 3:1–5. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
47. 47 The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
48. 48 L&N 30.73 defines συνωμοσία (sunōmosia) as “a plan for taking secret action someone or some institution, with the implication of an oath binding the conspirators—‘conspiracy, plot.’ … ‘there were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy’ Ac 23:13.”
49. 49 Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.
50. 50 Grk “going.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselthontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
51. 51 They went to the chief priests. The fact that the high priest knew of this plot and did nothing shows the Jewish leadership would even become accomplices to murder to stop Paul. They would not allow Roman justice to take its course. Paul’s charge in v. 3 of superficially following the law is thus shown to be true.
52. 52 Or “bound ourselves under a curse.” ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “ put under a curse τινά someone … pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14 … ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” The pleonastic use ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν (literally “we have cursed ourselves with a curse”) probably serves as an intensifier following Semitic usage, and is represented in the translation by the word “solemn.” On such oaths see Nedarim 3:1, 3.
53. 53 This included both food and drink (γεύομαι [geuomai] is used of water turned to wine in John 2:9).
54. 54 Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).
55. 55 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
56. 56 Or “decide.” διαγινώσκω has “ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ to make a more thorough examination of his case Ac 23:15.”
57. 57 Grk “determine the things about him.”
58. 58 The expression “more thorough inquiry” reflects the comparative form of ἀκριβέστερον (akribesteron).
59. 59 “We are ready to kill him.” Now those Jews involved in the conspiracy, along with the leaders as accomplices, are going to break one of the ten commandments.
60. 60 The words “this place” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.